Theological Works

The Gospels only record Jesus speaking seven times while hanging on the cross. Since the cross was the climax and fulfillment of His mission, these words are not idle or inane. Listed chronologically and explained below, these words included: 1

The prayer of forgiveness

The promise to the repentant criminal

The provision for his mother

The cry of separation from the Father

The acknowledgment of thirst

The cry of accomplishment

The cry of resignation

The prayer of forgiveness. “And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'” (Luke 23:34). As the innocent Christ hung from the cross, wrongfully accused, sentenced, and now tortured by His executioners as the soldiers, Pharisees, and criminals mocked and chided Him, Christ prays for their forgiveness. While it's impossible to know what precisely was on the mind of Christ, its likely that His words carried significance for not only those presently responsible for His death, but also for “all people whose depravity is reflected in the faces of those first century participants in this momentous event” (Howell, 343). In a wider application, Christ may also be requesting mercy for Israel, the chosen nation who at least temporarily have failed to recognize the very Messiah they are longing for. However, even without knowing Christ's thoughts, His followers are clearly to follow His model attitude of forgiveness for friend and foe alike as Stephen did during his stoning (Acts 7:60).

The promise to the repentant criminal.“And he said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'” (Luke 23:43). One of the two thieves on the cross saw something different in Jesus' that convinced him of His innocence and the truth of His royal claims (probably in light of Christ's inhuman forgiving character). In a moment of clarity, the thief defends Jesus against his former accomplice and admits their own guilt. After declaring Jesus innocent, this thief “implore[s] him to remember him when he begins his reign” and “Jesus' answer goes beyond the man's request, for 'today' the man will be with Jesus in the bliss of paradise” (Elwell, 838). This promise to this thief provides hope to millions with dark pasts, no futures, and nothing to offer in exchange for the gift of life, and thus serves as “the preeminent example of the truth that salvation is a gift of divine grace wholly apart from human merit” (Howell, 344).

The provision for his mother.“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (John 19:26-27 ). Ancient oriental chivalry gave the women at the cross a protected status from incrimination not available to the disciples (Elwell, 875) except John who may have been able to work his connections with the high priest (John 18:15). While allegorical interpretations of Jesus' providing for Mary abound (Elwell, 875), the plain meaning is probably best, which shows a very human Jesus concerned for His mother's well being. Therefore, “Jesus committed the care of his mother into the hands of his beloved discple rather than to the sons of Mary, his half-brothers, who at this time did not believe in him” (Howell, 345).

The cry of separation from the Father.“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'” (Mathew 27:46). As darkness covered the land, Christ lamented separation from God as He quoted Psalm 22:2. At this moment, Jesus' revealed an inside view that His understanding and experience of “...this whole crucifixion drama is God-forsakeness...” (Marshall, 1207). This is the what Christ dreaded in Gethsemane as His “preeminent joy” of unbroken communion with the Father is severed “as the sins of mankind descend upon him, driving him away from the presence of the Holy One” (Howell, 345). To solve the puzzle of God's abandonment, “Matthew also makes use of Psalm 22 in this respect. Psalm 22 does not deny the difficulty, but it finds solace that the situation is only temporary. And so it is with Jesus” (Marshall, 1208). For the resurrection restored the relationship once Christ's mission was complete with “God's holy wrath against sin satisfied” after being “poured out on a sinless God-Man substitute,” an act which “for a mysterious and imponderable moment of time” alienated the 1st and 2nd persons of the Trinity from one another (Howell, 345).

The acknowledgment of thirst.“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), 'I thirst.'” (John 19:28).Despite being abandoned by God, Christ still carried out every detail of His mission bringing fulfillment to Psalm 22:15 & 69:21 by invoking an offer of a wine-vinegar soaked sponge, which may also “...reflect Exodus 12:2 and Passover symbolism” (Elwell, 875). Since John often uses the word “thirst” to imply a heart condition only Jesus can satisfy as the water of life it's possible “he thirsted, in separation from the Father, so that our spiritual thirst may be permanently satisfied (Howell, 346).

The cry of accomplishment.“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished,' and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30). Jesus acknowledged the completion of His mission. He accomplished what He had set out to do from the start in full obedience to God.

The cry of resignation.“Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!' And having said this he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46). A full and willing participant in His mission to the cross, Jesus here voluntarily releases Himself back to the Father in no tragic ending. Bowing his head in finality, “Jesus now voiced his resolute confidence in the one who designed this very moment” and moments earlier had forsaken Him, returning to God's side (Howell 346-347).

1Titles from Thomas, Robert L.. Gundry, Stanley N.. The NIV Harmony of the Gospels. New York. Harper Collins. 1988.